a question for the Swiss

[Jeroen Speybroeck]

Next Friday, I will drive to Liguria and its salamanders. Two (about equally long) route options seem to present themselves.

+ for going through Switzerland:
1) Salamandra atra - but is that achievable???
2) Vipera aspis - but is that achievable???
3) nicer scenery
- for going through Switzerland:
4) probably in reality slower and maybe winter weather

Please comment on my thoughts (also non-Swiss with ideas, of course ).

[Mario Schweiger]

it looks like, the western route is touching Switzerland only a small bit.
I only may tell you for the eastern route:
For sure very nice scenery through the alps, and maybe still reptile-weather in Ticino.

Mario

[Thomas Reich]

1) The snow line is at aroud 1700m at the moment and not expected to drop significantly till Friday. S. atra is also found in low elevations, but I don't know if they are still active in November like S. salamandra is.
2) The current weather forecast for Ticino looks good for Friday. Quite sunny and highs of 15°C.
4) Winter weather is not expected.

[Dominik Hauser]

Salamandra atra will probably not be active at this time of the year even in the lowland spots. According to my book of Reptiles and Amphibians of Baden-Württemberg, activity in the lowland spots here in my area ends already in the first weeks of September. But I was not out checking this the last weeks.
I think in the lower areas and the northern sunny sides of the valleys in Ticino you can still be lucky.

Dominik

[Dominik Hauser]

Hi Michael,

I meant for Vipera and so on in Ticino.

[Thomas Reich]

Is S. atra confirmed for Ticino?!

Just two older and unconfirmed records according to:
http://lepus.unine.ch/carto/index.php?n ... &year=2000

[Mario Schweiger]

Just two older and unconfirmed records according to:
http://lepus.unine.ch/carto/index.php?n ... &year=2000

Nice link to good distribution maps for Switzerland

[Stéphane Aubry]

Hi Jeroen,

Living in western Switzerland, I think it's a lottery to find one Asp Viper now... I saw my last one on 30th October, since that day we had a lot of rain and cold but the weather should be better on Thursday and Friday.

Friday, I'll be in the field if the conditions are favorable.

[Jeroen Speybroeck]

Thanks for the input, guys! The trip will be super-short, so we'll have to see what we can fit in, but it's always great to have options.